1. Elizabeth Gilbert, in her novel Eat Pray Love, says “…a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life.”

A life partner, on the other hand, is someone with whom you have an understanding of sharing a whole life together, with compromise and at times a bittersweet love.

2. A life partner will bring in your life stories of heartbreak, a childhood that is different from yours, a background that will leave you thinking if you will EVER be able to adjust with them.

Whereas “A soul mate’s purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life.”

3. Soul mate would be your better half but won’t go on to be one, whereas a life partner would be a companion who will be a steady shoulder to hang onto and there is a sense of commitment present with them.

4. As opposed to falling for your life partner, falling for your soul mate would be dangerous since their job is to fulfil emptiness in you and then leave.

5. Soul mates are almost always intuitive. There is a strong sense of already knowing what the other feels and needs.